Watering trough



April 24, 1956 J. E. TILLMAN 2,742,920

WATERING TROUGH Filed June 25, 1954 F, Q m 1 ".1 I Maw Q i 51: C all "3 Q o an I s, N Q I l III John E Til/man IN V EN TOR.

By MM 19.

United States Patent WATERING TROUGH John E. Tillman, Paris, Ark. Application June 23, 1954, Serial No. 438,729 1 Claim. (Cl. 137-408) The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in watering troughs of the weight controlled automatic type for poultry, etc. and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, novel means for adjustably supporting and balancing the trough.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a watering trough balancing means which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, compact, reliable in use and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the invention;

Figure 2 is a view in vertical longitudinal section therethrough; and

Figure 3 is a view in transverse section, taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that reference character 5 designates generally a trough for the reception of the water, which trough may be of any suitable dimensions and material. The ends of the trough 5 are fixed at intermediate points on vertical plates 6 and 7. The trough 5 is suspended in an elevated position between a stand 8 and a vertical pipe 9. Pipe 9 is from a suitable source of water under pressure and said pipe terminates in a downturned upper end portion 10 having fixed thereon a control valve 11. The valve 11 includes a downwardly closing operating lever 12 which extends toward the pipe 9. An opening spring 13 is connected to the lever 12, said spring depending from an arm 14 which projects from the upper portion of the valve 11. The lever 12 passes through an opening 15 which is provided therefor in the plate 7 for mounting one end of the trough 5 on the valve 11.

The stand 8 comprises a base 16 of suitable dimensions.

Rising from the base 16 is a standard or post 17. A sleeve 18 is mounted for sliding adjustment on the post 17 A setscrew 19 secures the sleeve 18 in adjusted position. Projecting horizontally from the sleeve 18 is an arm 20 which passes through an opening 21 provided therefor in the plate 6 for supporting the adjacent end of the trough 5 on the stand 8. As illustrated to advantage in Figure 2 of the drawing, the plate 6 is seated in a notch 22 which is provided therefor in the arm 20.

It is thought that the operation of the invention will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, when the water entering the trough 5 from the supply pipe 9 reaches the desired level, the end of said trough which is adjacent said pipe swings downwardly under the weight of the water for closing the valve 11 against the tension of the coil spring 13. Of course, as the water is consumed and when the weight has decreased sufficiently, the spring 13 opens the valve 11 for replenishing the supply. The trough is balanced on the arm 20 of the stand 8 and swings therefrom. .By adjusting the sleeve 18 on the post 17 the water in the trough 5 may be accurately maintained at the desired level. Further, the construction and arrangement is such as to lend stability to the trough.

-It is believed that the many advantages of a watering trough embodying the present invention will be readily understood and although a preferred form of the device is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

A watering device of the character described comprising: a trough, vertical plates on the ends of said trough, said plates having openings therein, a stand adjacent one end of the trough, said stand including a base, a post rising from said base, a sleeve mounted for sliding adjustment on said post, a setscrew for securing the sleeve in adjusted position, a horizontal arm on said sleeve projecting through the opening in the adjacent plate, said arm having a recess therein for the reception of said plate, a vertical water supply pipe adjacent the other end of the trough, said supply pipe including a downturned upper end portion, a control valve on said downturned end portion, said valve including an operating lever engaged in the opening in the other plate for supporting said other end of said trough on the valve and for operatively connecting the trough to the valve, and means connected to the lever for closing the valve.

Krull July 12, 1921 Kielsmeier Apr. 1, 1930 

